Printing device



' 4 1,613,385 4 1927' J. s. DUNCAN PRINTING DEVICE Filed March 2'7, 1926 J. JASON M766 I326: MARKET 5T 70 CITY 8 saw; VIOaAb .L,

Ta TBMHAM 656i YTII) Patented Jan. 4, 1927. UldiifTlE.

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JOEIEFI'I S. DUNCAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS, A$STGNQR TO ADDEESS OG'RAPH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIQ, A GGRlP-JEATEOBT OF ILLINOIS.

PRINTING DEVICE.

Application filed March 2?, 1926.

It is known to provide printing devices with individual classification means and to arrange these devices in trays or drawers and to cause them to travel through a printing machine which is operated automatically to take impressions from all of the printing devices in a given class. In my Patents No. 1,082,505 and N 0. 1,082,506, patented Deceniber 30, 1913, I have described the use of index tabs adapted to be detachably engaged with printing devices for controlling the printing operations of a printing machine according to the classifications indicated by the tabs.

My present invention has for its object to provide a simple means for classifying printing devices so that all ofthe printing devices in a given division of the classification may be automatically and electrically selected for printing while the other printing devices in the collection travel through the machine without printin In the accompanying drawings 1 have selected for illustration a printing frame form of printing device to which the invention is well adapted, and referring thereto- Fig. 1 is a front view of a printing device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the card shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a form of electrical controller means adapted to be operated by the printing device.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a frame which is provided with suitable devices for receiving and holding a plate 6 which bears the printing characters in relief thereon.

It is customary in printing devices of this general class to provide the frame with a head 7 and with other devices 8 for receiving and holding an information card which is detachably engaged therewith. I have shown in the drawings devices which have been satisfactorily employed for this purpose with a card 9 engaged therewith in its proper position on the front of the frame and above the printing plate 6. in my present invention this card is provided with an opening 10 which may be disposed in any position in the card to provide as many different classifications as may be desired. it being understood that the position of the opening determines a division or a sub division of the general scheme of classifi- Serial No. 97,831.

cation employed. 1 may also employ detachable tabs 11 as a part of a general classification .scheme in the manner indicated in my patents aforesaid, in addition to an opening 10, or the tab may be used as a supplement to the classification provided by the opening 10 for supplying a special classification. Thus the opening may be employed in different positions to designate subscription eXpirations and the tab may be employed in different positions to indicate an alphabetical or a geographical classilication; and the machine .may be equipped with electrical controller devices for operation by printing devices embodying my invention and not'supplied with tabs, or the machines may be provided additionally with mechanical controller devices for operation by the index tabs.

The invention contemplates the provision in the machine of some form of electrical controller adapted to be set for operation only by those printing devices in a collection which have openings in the cards in a certain position. The invention is not limited to a particular construction or arrangement of such controller devicesand I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the simple form here selected for illustration for a better understanding of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 3 a movable contact 11 is connected in a circuit 12 with a battery 13 or other source of current, an electromagnet 14 and a stationary contact 15. The movable co tact 16 is normally separated above the stationary contact and both contacts should be insulated from the rest of the machine. Suitable feeding means are pro vided to move the printing devices one at a time from a steel: in a magazine to printing position at or about the contacts; the movable contact is caused to move in coordination with the feeding movement of the printing devices; and the movable contact is set to select for printing all of the printing devices in a class or in a division or a subdivision of the classification. When a selected printing device is arranged in printing position and the movable contact is operated, it will enter the opening in the card and engage the metal frame which is inengagement with the stationary contact 15, thereby closing the controller circuit and effecting through suitable means, the operation of the printing machine to take an im-.

pression from the printing device in printing position. The stationary contact 15 may be the bed upon which the printing device rests in printing position. If the printing device in printing position has the opening in the card arranged in another class or division or sub-division of the classification than that for which the controller has been set the movable contact will engage the card and the controller circuitwill not be closed. I provide a card which will prevent the circuit from being closed when the movable con tact engages therewith.

My present invention enables the provision of a classification system with a great many classes or divisions and sub-divisions because the openings in the card may be made small and multiplied many times.

Furthermore, it is possible to greatly enlarge the possible classification by using the tabs and making combinations through the electrical and the mechanical controller devices Or a plurality of electrical controller devices may be provided requiring collective operation in conjunction with a card properly punched to effect the printing operation. V

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A rinting device for printing addresses or the like comprising a frame having a metal portion, and a card detachably engaged with the frame and having an opening disposed in a predetermined position Within its margin in opposition to said metal portion to permit electrical contact to be made with said metal portion through said opening.

2. A printing device for printing ad dresses or the like comprising a metal frame, a printing plate and an information card, said frame having devices thereon for receiving and holding said plate and card in position on one side of the frame, said card having an opening disposed in a predetermined position within the margin of the card for classifying the printing device and said opening being backed by the frame to permit electrical contact to be made with the frame through said opening.

3. The combination with an electrical circuit and spaced contacts therein, of a printing device for printing addresses or the like comprising a metal frame and a card engaged with the frame and having an opening disposed in a predetermined position within its margin to permit the electrical circuit to be closed by engagement of one of said contacts with a portion of said frame and by engagement of the other contact with the frame through said opening in the card.

JOSEPH S. DUNCAN. 

